So what's it gonna be outdoor sports fans: Ttake a crack at resident geese? Ease into the hunting season with an afternoon dove shoot? Or maybe live line spot for rockfish, chuck lures to bluefish or fast troll for Spanish mackerel. Crabbing is on the upswing, though bottom fishing for spot, white perch and croakers (night time is best) might be your most reliable bet.

I'm on the fence about whether to join the unwashed masses on September 1st at a public dove field to see how badly I can miss these sporty birds with my 20-gauge side-by-side. Hunting hours for morning dove during the first split are noon to sunset, though usually shorter on public lands. You can bag eight geese during the state's Early Resident Goose Season in the Eastern Zone, which runs Sept. 1–Sept. 15. Visit DNR Wildlife & Heritage website for details.

Huge Marlin Decked in Mid-Atlantic Tournament: Let's start with the supposition that we can agree a 40-pound rockfish is a trophy catch. Now consider the blue marlin Tony Gay of Grasonville landed during the Mid-Atlantic Tournament last week was twenty-one times as heavy. That gives us a little perspective as to what's swimming in the ocean, doesn't it.

Gay was fishing with Captain Wade Lober of Queenstown aboard Lober's sportfisher Why Not when they hooked the 847-pound marlin on Day Four of the event. Lober and crew took home more than $148,000 for winning the blue marlin division, while setting by almost 100 pounds a new tournament record for the species. The state record blue marlin, caught by Robert Farris in August of 2009, weighed 1,062 pounds.

PSG Hosts "Kids Fishing Derby": Hats off to the Pasadena Sportfishing Group and their efforts to get young people and their parents or guardians involved with fishing. The group is hosting another "Kid's Fishing Derby," this one is scheduled for Sept. 13 from 8 a.m. to 11:30 a.m. at Fort Smallwood Park.

Among the activities will be a Casting Range for two age groups -- 4 to 8 and 9 to 13, Hit the Fish Eye (all kids win), and of course the main Fishing Contest. The PSG will supply bait and help measure your catch. Four prizes per age group will be awarded for thes largest and the most fish caught.